Material positioning apparatus for building construction



Oc 2 1967 E. WILLIFORD MATERIAL POSITIONING APPARATUS FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Filed Oct. 5, 1966 aoE I INVENTOR.

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United States Patent 3,348,700 MATERIAL POSITIONING APPARATUS FOR BUILDING CONSTRUCTION Elmer L. Williford, Rte. 1, Box 353, Bastrop, La. 71220 Filed Oct. 5, 1966, Ser. No. 584,498 6 Claims. (Cl. 21213) This invention relates to multi-story building construction and to ground-based erectible-collapsible apparatus for use in lifting and shifting steel, concrete and other building materials as a building is being erected, and also for use in lifting personnel during the construction of the building.

The invention includes an upright pair of wheeled towers runably supported on parallel trackways; a heavy cable tautly spans the pair of towers and pendantly supports a pair of hoisting trolleys; the hoisting trolleys each includes traveling means for moving the trolley along the cable and hoisting cable means for lifting a load of material; each trolley also includes operator compartment means for carrying an operator who controls the traveling and hoisting means of each trolley. The pair of wheeled towers each include telescopic tower sections; the pair of wheeled towers are adapted to be moved simultaneously equi-distantly along the trackways to shift the pair of hoisting trolleys horizontally, or the pair of towers are adapted to be simultaneously equi-distantly extended vertically to raise the pair of hoisting trolleys as the multi-story building construction progresses.

An object of the invention is to provide material positioning apparatus which is supported from the ground and is not supported from the building structure, thus providing means whereby material may be positioned on any top area of the building as it is being constructed.

A further object is to provide material positioning apparatus which may be readily set up or erected for use on the building site, or may be readily collapsed and dismantled after use.

A further object is to provide material positioning apparatus which may be collapsed and dismantled into substantially small compact parts that are readily transportable from building site to building site.

A further object is to provide material positioning ap paratus having dual material handling means for rapid handling of the material and rapid construction of the building.

A further object is to provide material positioning apparatus which rapidly and accurately positions the material.

A further object is to provide material handling apparatus of strong sturdy construction and such that may safely handle heavy material loads.

The means by which the foregoing and other objects of the present invention are accomplished and the manner of their accomplishment will be readily understood fro-m the following specification upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematically illustrated front elevational view of the building constructing apparatus taken as on the line II of FIG. 2 and illustrating, in broken lines, a partially completed building (indicated B) and building material (indicated .M)

FIG. 2 is substantially a side elevational view taken as on the line II-II of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken as on a vertical plane through one of the detent means for securing the tow sections of the building together.

In the drawings, numeral 11 indicates the apparatus in its entirety and in its prefer-red form. Apparatus 11 basically includes right and left tracked tower assemblies 13,

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13 respectively including wheeled towers 15, 15; a main cable 17 supported from and spanning towers 15, 15; and a pair of hoisting trolleys 19, 19' pendantly suspended from cable 17 (for purposes of clarity in disclosure, the apparatus will be considered as having front, rear, right and left sides).

Tower assemblies 13, 13' are substantially alike and the following description of tower assembly 13 will define both tower assemblies.

Tower assembly 13 in addition to wheeled tower 15 includes a horizontally parallel paired rail trackway 21 including track rails 23, elevating means for telescopically extending wheeled tower 15 and tow means for horizontally positioning tower 15 along trackway 21. Tower assembly 13 also preferably includes movable and stationary guy line means for securing or supporting wheeled tower 15 in a vertical configuration. Wheeled tower 15 includes a base structure 27; telescopically arranged tower sections 29, 31, 33 supported uprightly on base structure 27; and rail wheel means 35 journaled on and runably supporting base structure 27 on trackway 21. Outer tower section 29 is fixedly secured at the lower portion thereof to the upper portion of base structure 27. Inner tower Sections 31, 33 are telescopically secured in outer tower section 29 and are adapted to be extended from or retracted into outer section 29 (tower 15 is illustrated in the drawings in a fully extended disposition). Manually controllable power operative Winch cable means including a pair of winches 37, 39 and cables 41, 42 provide means for vertical displacement of inner tower sections 31, 33. It will be understood that in the drawings the tower 15 is in the extended position, but when the tower is in a retracted position with sections 29, 31, and 33 being in a nested and unextended relationship, winch cable 41 is reeved over pulley 43 fixedly journaled on the upper edge portion of tower section 31 and winch cable 42 in reeved over a pulley 44 fixedly journaled on the upper edge portion of tower section 31. Also, when the tower 15 is in a retracted position, the end portions of the cables 41, 42 extend between tower sections 31, 33 on opposite sides thereof and are respectively made fast to the opposite bottom edgesof inner tower section 33 as by means of bridles. During the construction of the building, inner tower section 33 is extended relative to tower sections 31 and 29 by operating the winches 37, 39 to cause inner tower section 33 to move upwardly. Suitable means is preferably provided for fixing section 33 relative to section 31 when the section 33 reaches its fully extended position, as for example, a pair of substantially identical plunger detent means, one of which is shown in FIG. 3, are provided on opposite sides of inner tower section 31 adjacent the upper edge thereof, and each of which comprises a plunger 45 operating in a socket 46 in the wall of inner tower section 33 and urged outwardly against the inner wall of tower section 31 by a spring 47. During the extension of inner section 33, as above described, the end of plunger 45 rides in sliding engagement against the inner wall of tower section 31 until the inner section 33 is fully extended whereupon the plunger 45 enters a hole 48 provided in the wall of tower section 31 to lock the sections 31, 33 together.

When it is desired to raise tower 15 still further, the ends of cables 41, 42 are removed from tower section 33 and placed on the lower end of section 31, the pulleys 43, 44 are attached to the upper edges of section 29 with cables 41, 42 extending therethrough, as shown in the drawing, and sections 31, 33 are then raised together until the tower 15 is in the fully extended position shown in the drawing. It will be understood that there are preferably similar plunger detent means acting between sections 31 and 29 in the same manner as heretofore described relative to sections 31 and 33.

The tow means for horizontally positioning tower along trackway 21 preferably includes forward and rearward tow winch mechanisms 49, 51 arranged respectively at the forward and rearward end portions of trackway 21. The end portions 53, 55 respectively of winch cables 57, 59 are fixedly secured on longitudinally opposite portions of wheeled tower base structure 27. The wheeled tower is adapted to be horizontally moved to a desired location along trackway 21 by simultaneously playing out tow cable of one winch mechanism and reeling in tow cable of the other winch mechanism. Wheeled tower 15 preferably includes a pair of individually operative tower cars 60 operatively arranged in the telescopically formed interior of tower 15. A pair of winches 61 are fixedly mounted on the upper portion of innermost inner tower 33 and are connected respectively to tower cars 60 by winch cables 62. Tower cars 60 are individually operative for shuttling building material and workmen to various elevations of the building as it is being constructed.

Trackways 21, 21' respectively of right and left tower assemblies 13, 13' are parallel arranged; wheeled towers 15, 15 respectively of tower assemblies 13, 13 are arranged directly opposite each other and perpendicular to opposite trackway structures.

Opposite end portions 63, 63 of main cable 17 are fixedly secured to corresponding upper portions of innermost tower sections 33, 33 of towers 15, 15; cable 17 is tautly tensioned between tower sections 33, 33'. If desired, the end portions 63, 63' of main cable 17 may be movably secured to tower sections 33, 33 by suitable means for selective vertical movement relative to the tower sections.

Right and left hoisting trolleys 19, 19 are substantially alike; the following description of hoisting trolley 19 will thus also describe trolley 19: Hoisting trolley 19 includes roller means 65 fixedly journaled on the upper portion of the trolley and rollingly engaging cable 17; roller means 65 pendantly suspends trolley 19 from cable 17. Hoisting trolley 19 includes power driven traveling mechanism 67 of suitable well known construction including a driven roller 69 of roller means 65; by virtue of power-driven roller 69 and traveling mechanism 67, trolley 19 is adapted to move to and fro along main cable 17. Trolley 19 includes a hoisting mechanism 71 including a hoisting cable 73 pendantly arranged underneath the body of the trolley. Material engaging means, as sling means 75, is fixed on the lower terminal portion of cable 73. Trolley 19 includes operator compartment means 77 and control means 79 for operatively controlling respectively traveling mechanism 67 and hoisting mechanism 71. Hoisting trolleys 19, 19' provide independently operable dual material handling means for lifting building material directly from the ground surface, or for handling material transferred from tower car means 60.

Apparatus 11 preferably includes guy means for securing and additionally supporting each wheeled tower 15, 15' respectively in an upright configuration; the guy means of the apparatus preferably includes movable and stationary guy line means. The movable guy line means includes forward and rearward guy winch mechanisms 81, 83 and 81', 83' arranged respectively at the forward and rearward end portions of trackway structures 21, 21 (winch 83 not illustrated, but corresponds in position to winch 83). The end portions of winch cables 85, 87, 85', 87 are fixed respectively to the upper edge portion of innermost tower sections 33, 33 (winch cable 87' not illustrated, but corresponds in position to cable 87). Guy winch mechanisms 81, 83, 81, 83' are adapted to be simultaneously operative with tow winch mechanisms 49, 51, 49', 51' of the tow means of the apparatus (tow winch 51' not illustrated, but corresponds in position to tow winch 51). The respective guy winch mechanisms 81, 83, 81', 83 of each tower assembly 13, 13 are adapted respectively to simultaneously play out the guy line of one pair of winch mechanisms while reeling in the guy line of the other pair of winch mechanisms.

.The stationary guy line means of apparatus 11 is adapted to be used only when Wheeled towers 15, 15' are stationarily positioned on respective trackway structures 21, 21; the stationary guy line means of the apparatus preferably includes a pair of opposingly arranged guy lines 89, 89 extending respectively horizontally obliquely and generally oppositely from each other. Obliquely extending guy line 89 is securely anchored in the ground at one end thereof by an anchor block 91 and is securely made fast at the upper end thereof to the top edge portion of wheeled tower section 33. It will be understood that, if desired, instead of the anchoring of guy lines 89, 89' being stationary they may be movable with the towers 15, 15. Guy line 89 extends along a vertical plane lying generally perpendicular to a vertical plane extending coincident with movable guy lines 85, 87 of forward and rearward winch mechanisms 81, 83. By the same token, stationary guy line 89' is tensioned between ground anchor block 91' and the top edge portion of wheeled tower section 33'. Although stationary and movable guy line means have been illustrated as supporting each wheeled tower 15, 15 uprightly, it is considered that in certain embodiments of the apparatus, the use of guy line means would not be desirable: In certain embodiments of the apparatus, base structures 27, 27' respectively of wheeled towers 15, 15 are formed of material having great weight and mass and as such adequately operatively support the wheeled towers in upright dis positions without the use of guy lines.

In the operation of apparatus 11 when it is desired to raise main cable 17 and hoisting trolleys 19, 19 the tower elevating means are brought into play and the telescopic tower sections of the respective wheeled towers are simultaneously equi-distantly moved. Likewise, when it is desired to move cable 17 and hoisting trolleys 19, 19 horizontally, the tow means of the apparatus is brought into play; the tow Winch mechanisms 49, 51 and 49', 51' are simultaneously actuated to move the main cable and hoisting trolley means of the apparatus horizontally.

It will be understood that the use of the present invention is not limited to square buildings or structures but with slight modifications it can be used to build any type of building, as for example, circular buildings, in which case the trackway corresponding to trackway 21, 21 would be a circular trackway surrounding the structure, and the tower assemblies 13, 13' would preferably be motorized.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by Way of illustration and example for purposes of clarity or understanding, it is to be understood that it is not to be so limited since changes and modifications may be made therein which are within the full intended scope of this invention as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. An apparatus for erecting a building comprising:

(A) trackway means (B) right and left tower assemblies, each assembly including:

(1) a wheeled tower including:

(a) a base structure of substantially great weight and mass,

(b) a plurality of telescopically arranged tower sections extending uprightly from said base structure including an outer section surmountably fixed on said base structure and at least one inner section adapted to be moved upwardly and downwardly relative to said outer section,

(c) manually controllable power operative elevating means for moving said inner section upwardly and downwardly and for vertically positioning said inner section at a desired elevation,

(d) rail wheel means runably supporting said wheeled tower on said trackway means, and

(e) manually controllable power operative tow means for horizontally positioning said Wheeled tower at a desired location along said trackway means,

(i) said wheeled towers respectively of right and left tracked tower assemblies being arranged on said trackway means directly opposite each other,

said right and left wheeled towers being adapted to be correspondingly moved horizontally equi-distantly simultaneously by the tow means of the tracked tower assemblies,

(C) a main cable secured at opposite end portions thereof respectively to corresponding inner tower sections of the wheeled towers of said right and left tracked tower assemblies and with said main cable being tautly tensioned between said inner tower sections, and

(D) a hoisting trolley including (1) roller means rolling engaging said main cable and pendantly suspending said trolley from said cable,

(2) traveling mechanism mounted on said hoisting trolley and operatively engaging said main cable for moving said trolley to and fro along said main cable,

(3) hoisting mechanism mounted on said trolley including a hoisting cable pendantly arranged underneath said trolley,

(4) an operator compartment included in said trolley, and

(5) manually operative control means in said trolley for operatively controlling respectively said traveling mechanism and said hoistingmechanism.

2. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 in which said trackway means includes:

(1) A pair of parallel arranged trackways respectively supporting said wheeled towers.

3. An apparatus as defined in claim 1 which additionally includes:

(1) at least one tower car arranged in the longitudinal interior of each wheeled tower, and

(2) lifting means mounted on each tower for raising and lowering said car in each tower.

4. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which each tower assembly includes a forward and a rearward tow winch mechanism arranged oppositely and respectively at the forward and rearward end portions of each trackway and with each winch mechanism including a tow cable made fast to the base structure of each wheeled tower, each wheeled tower being adapted to be horizontally moved to a desired location along each trackway by simultaneously playing out the tow cable of one winch mechanism and reeling in the tow cable of the other winch mechanism.

5. An apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which each assembly of said right and left tower assemblies additionally includes guy means for securing and additionally supporting each wheeled tower uprightly.

6. An apparatus as defined in claim 5 in which said guy means of each tower assembly includes movable guy line means including a forward and a rearward guy winch mechanism arranged oppositely and respectively at the forward and the rearward end portions of each trackway and with each winch mechanism including a guy line made fast to the top portion of the inner section of said wheeled tower, said forward and rearward Winch mechanism of said movable guy line means being operably adapted respectively to simultaneously play out the guy line of one winch mechanism while reeling in the guy line of the other winch mechanism.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ANDRES H. NEILSEN, Primary Examiner. 

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ERECTING A BUILDING COMPRISING: (A) TRACKWAY MEANS (B) RIGHT AND LEFT TOWER ASSEMBLIES, EACH ASSEMBLY INCLUDING: (1) A WHEELED TOWER INCLUDING: (A) A BASE STRUCTURE OF SUBSTANTIALLY GREAT WEIGHT AND MASS, (B) A PLURALITY OF TELESCOPICALLY ARRANGED TOWER SECTIONS EXTENDING UPRIGHTLY FROM SAID BASE STRUCTURE INCLUDING AN OUTER SECTION SURMOUNTABLY FIXED ON SAID BASE STRUCTURE AND AT LEAST ONE INNER SECTION ADAPTED TO BE MOVED UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY RELATIVE TO SAID OUTER SECTION, (C) MANUALLY CONTROLLABLE POWER OPERATIVE ELEVATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID INNER SECTION UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY AND FOR VERTICALLY POSITIONING SAID INNER SECTION AT A DESIRED ELEVATION, (D) RAIL WHEEL MEANS RUNABLY SUPPORTINGG SAID WHEELED TOWER ON SAID TRACKWAY MEANS, AND (E) MANUALLY CONTROLLABLE POWER OPERATIVE TOWER MEANS FOR HORIZONTALLY POSITIONING SAID WHEELED TOWER AT A DESIRED LOCATION ALONG SAID TRACKWAY MEANS, (I) SAID WHEELDED TOWERS RESPECTIVELY OF RIGHT AND LEFT TRACKED TOWER ASSEMBLIES BEING ARRANGED ON SAID TRACKWAY MEANS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE EACH OTHER, 